As promised, we did not get very far yesterday. We were able to fix the pesky error we had at the top though. The puzzle pieces are all very similar in size and shape with no variant . It is really easy to put the wrong piece where you think it belongs. I think there’s a metaphor for life somewhere in there….
Day 2…. the easy part is done….and a little help from my daughter. As today I have mainly solid white pieces left, don’t expect much to change by tomorrow…
I’m sort of in a mood….so I’m going to post pictures of my progress with this puzzle till I’m over it. I got this yesterday (ordered it weeks ago) and I started last night…
Because what is life without whimsy, we are going to do another edition of favorite Friday. Feel free to add your answers in comments, post on your own blog or just make fun of my answers…
thanks to pairedlife.com for the prompts
A common blog theme I’ve see of late revolves around simplicity. The pandemic has taught them that if nothing else, life should be simpler.
I totally get that. I have chosen to live what I consider a simple life. I also decided to embark on a simpler life path after 9/11. I left my lucrative job and chose to be a stay at home Mom. We scrapped plans to move to a pricey suburb or a larger apartment. We chose to live close to where my husband works so that he could be home for dinner most nights. We let our old car die a natural death and we never purchased a new one. We don’t “decorate” and replace things only when needed. Our place is really function over form.
We also don’t spend much time in our home. We do not spend the weekends doing “projects”. Our weekends are spent doing the things that we really enjoy: shows, concerts, learning new things, etc.
I don’t shop as a hobby. I buy clothes as needed and have a streamlined wardrobe. It’s only as large as it is because I live in a four season climate. I like make up and products but again, I keep the number quite low compared to many.
My daughter was involved in activities that she truly enjoyed and was passionate about. We figured out ways to reduce the stresses that come with high paced acadamia and its off shoots.
I consider my life quite simple.
But…
That’s my definition.
What do you consider a simple life?
Do you desire going towards a simpler life?
What are the pros and cons of a simpler life?
What is simple?
New York City is still closed to non essential business until at least June 15th. It is up in the air as to whether or not the nation’s largest public school system will be back on in September. Unemployment has had lows not seen since the depression. We all know what was the key factor to getting out of the depression…
But I digress…
Bars in NYC have begun serving drinks out of the front windows of their establishments. The bar next to my apartment building in doing this…
So now, on any given night, and by night I mean 3pm when the bar opens…people can be found congregated outside the bar. Drinking. Smoking. And obviouly not wearing masks…
Last Friday when I was walking my dog at 7pm, I counted twenty (20)( * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * if you’re helping kids with common core) people outside the bar.
What does this mean on a NYC street?
Well, there were 8 people in the little tiny alcove right in front on the window which normally has 2 tables for two people set up- or in social distancing terms, room for 2 people…
There were six people on the sidewalk between the cordoned off bar seating avenue blocking both the sidewalk an the city bus stop that is right there…
There were six people in front of my apartment building which borders the bar, but again, congregated into a spot for one social distant person…
I gave the six people who were blocking the sidewalk forcing me to go into the street and the bus stop with my dog a dirty look. The drunk woman (who was not college age so I can’t blame it on youth) made the snide comment of “Wow- you would think she would be happy that we’re not standing closer to other people…”
Yeah…
good times…
I walked into my building and told my doorman what had just happened…
I asked how is that essential…
My neighbor who was in the lobby replied..
“Of course that’s essential. People are so depressed they need to get drunk to forget…’
So I guess there’s that…
Last week I read a blog post. The writer commented about how her children were missing their graduation ceremonies and it was a different experience, blah blah blah…
I commented that I was sad for all the kids who didn’t get to experience these moments of their lives.
She responded by saying that she wasn’t sad that these things were missed because they were strong and those things didn’t matter and they were just fine as they were.
To be fair, this may not have been exactly what she said, but this is how I read it- this is my interpretation of the response…(but really, when we read something personal, don’t we make our own interpretations of the words in front of us? It’s not like I’m going to memorize it and get tested on it a week later- but wait…maybe there is an essay question in this…)
But anyway…after I read this response these were my thoughts in the order that I thought them:
so…..
for today…
I want you to think about how you really feel about the situation.
You.
Not what your friend thinks.
Not what the media tells you to think.
Not what you’re “supposed” to think.
What do YOU think
While I agree that we should try to remain optimistic, if you are not feeling it, it is better to be honest with yourself. It’s only self awareness that will get you through this mentally intact.
The greatest danger we now face is mental not physical…
Are you being accepting of your own thoughts and feelings?
Are you accepting of the thoughts and feelings of others?
Obviously, there’s no grade on this assignment so you don’t have to do anything…
But…
not thinking about this is just as telling as thinking about it…
Last week one a few of my blog friends said that “How are you?” seems to be a question that many are leaving unvoiced…
In this time of all in this together, have we forgotten to actually think about the feelings of others?
Ask about them?
Listen to them?
So…
If you’re happy and you know it I’ll clap my hands with you…
But if you’re anything else…
I’m here…
You can comment, or email me directly:
wakinguponthewrongsideof50@gmail.com
Last Sunday was my birthday. My daughter set out to give me the best birthday ever…
First off was a schedule. My schedule included an hour to take a walk, time to play games, afternoon tea, picking a movie of my choice (I chose the 1945 version of “And Then There Were None” when we realized “The Sure THing” isn’t even available on streaming), and most importantly, they took an hour walk and it was the first time in nine weeks that I had been alone…
You have no idea how much that meant to me.
I am not the type of person who is meant to be around people 24/7…
Seriously…
Another day in paradise…
As you may know, my birthday was this week, and it fell on Mother’s Day. I really love my birthday and every year we have certain things that we do. This year we were planning to add a spa afternoon for my daughter and me.
Ha
I am very grateful to my family, especially my daughter, for doing everything possible to make my day special, memorable and enjoyable.
Pictures tomorrow…
Waking up on the Wrong Side of 50 